Encomium
NATIONAL Chairman of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) leader, Dr. Frederick Faseun has denied being disowned by his party over his support for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He added that his endorsement of Jonathan was a decision in the right direction.
He further described the purported action of some members of the party as nothing but a wasteful effort. He, therefore, enjoined the public to disregard any publication in respect of that.
Speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Saturday, February 28, 2015, the activist turned politician expressed disappointment over the erroneous public impression about his adoption of the incumbent president as the only candidate capable of turning around the country’s economy in four years. He stressed that his endorsement of Jonathan was premised on his outstanding performance in the past few years.
“Yes, we have endorsed Jonathan. The experience we had about him is pleasurable. That’s why we endorsed him. He is performing.
“There are certain good deeds you can’t deny Jonathan and there are many cruel and bad deeds you can’t deny his opponent. It’s a matter of fact.”
Probed further on the tale that President Jonathan doled out millions of naira to him and other Yoruba leaders who met with him in Akure, Ondo State, few days back, he reacted swiftly, “You don’t need to be bribed to take a decision that’s available already. Those who believed Jonathan gave us money in Akure should also go and collect theirs from him if he has become Father Christmas. It’s out-rightly baseless.”
Asked to shed light on the alleged crisis rocking UPN over his endorsement of Jonathan which consequently led to him being disowned by the party as stated by the party’s flag-bearer in Ogun governorship race, Rotimi Paseda in one of the dailies, a few days back, he reacted, “No one has disowned me for endorsing Jonathan, and there is no crisis in the party. Those causing crisis have been expelled.
“I don’t even know the Paseda you’re talking about as a member of our party. Let him show you his membership card if he claims to be a member.
“My decision to support Jonathan’s candidacy is in the right direction. UPN is a participant in the forthcoming elections but the party doesn’t have a presidential candidate of its own. And since we don’t have a candidate to represent the party for the presidential race, I had to support Jonathan. I don’t see reason for any crisis about that.”
Meanwhile, the reported comments of the Ondo born medical doctor turned politician on the forthcoming elections, especially on Jonathan and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), have been generating reactions among Nigerians, especially the Yoruba. Faseun was quoted in a daily few days back lending his weight behind Jonathan’s candidacy and discrediting APC candidate, Buhari.
“Some people are showing Buhari as the guiding light but they don’t know what Buhari is. Four more years of Jonathan is acceptable than eight years of nightmare under Buhari because we have tested what democracy is and we can differentiate from a dictatorial government.”
Following this comment, however, Ogun UPN flag-bearer, Paseda carpeted Faseun, saying he’s only acting on his own. Paseda reportedly said the party neither presented nor adopted any presidential candidate as claimed by Faseun.
“Dr. Faseun is not representing the party, he is on his own and he can never force any candidate down the throat of the party. UPN is not ready to work either with APC or PDP because the two candidates are birds of a feather. Their common ideology doesn’t represent that of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” he was quoted to have said.
A couple of days back, Dr. Faseun, Gani Adams, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Chief Olu Falae, Yinka Odumakin and others met in Akure, Ondo State, under the umbrella of Yoruba leaders at a post conference forum, during which they endorsed President Jonathan and insisted on the Confab report implementation.
– TADE ASIFAT
